Agent: Woods Will Play in Tournament at Riviera

PEBBLE BEACH — When the Nissan Open tees it up at Riviera Country Club, there will be a Tiger in the barranca.

Hughes Norton, Tiger Woods’ agent at IMG, said Tuesday that Woods will play the $1.5-million tournament Feb. 27-March 2.

“Obviously, he’s got a soft spot in his heart for the tournament,” Norton said.

Woods, 21, received his first sponsor’s exemption for a PGA Tour event at the 1992 Nissan Los Angeles Open at Riviera when he was 16.

Although he has not technically committed to play at Riviera, Norton said Woods will enter before the Feb. 21 deadline.

Tournament director Tom Pulchinski of the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce said he hopes the commitment is soon so the organization, which presents the tournament, can fully market Woods.

Starting Thursday, Woods is playing the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am with actor Kevin Costner as his partner. Woods then leaves for a tournament in Thailand and the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Norton said Woods is scheduled to take the next week off, which is the week before the Nissan Open.

If Woods also plays at Doral, Bay Hill and the Players Championships, as expected, he will have played seven tournaments in nine weeks.

Woods has played two tournaments this year. He won in a playoff at the Mercedes Championships and tied for 18th last week at Phoenix.